Researching Writing

“A much-needed text for a growing number of schools that are attempting to extend the research methods of writing studies into the undergraduate curriculum, writing center, and other writing-related initiatives.”

—Dominic DelliCarpini, York College of Pennsylvania

"Kinkead presents complex ideas about research in digestible chunks and intersperses them with engaging activities to facilitate both individual reflection and whole-class or research-team discussion. . . . [Researching Writing] should be a useful undergraduate text both in regions with flourishing undergraduate research traditions and in countries just beginning to explore this pedagogy."

Researching Writing is an accessible, informative textbook that teaches undergraduates how to conduct ethical, authentic research in writing studies. The book introduces students to the research approaches used most often and offers a course framework for professors creating or teaching research courses themselves.

Author Joyce Kinkead lays out the research process, including finding and defining questions, planning, and starting the research. Expository content introduces the language and methods of writing research, and specific methods are demonstrated in published examples, illustrating student work using student work and showing that it is possible for students to join the scholarly conversation in writing studies. Other features include student activities, instructor resources, student resources, and links to external content on journal websites, digital publications, YouTube, and similar work.

The first-ever textbook for research methods in writing studies for undergraduates, Researching Writing takes a hands-on approach that excites and engages students in the depth and complexities of research and will influence the creation of courses in new writing majors as the field continues to grow.

Joyce Kinkead is distinguished professor of English at Utah State University, the 2013 US Professor of the Year for the state of Utah, and a founding member of the International Writing Centers Association. She was named a Council on Undergraduate Research Fellow in 2012 and is the author or editor of several books.